Leviathan

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Leviathan

February 28, 2023
mike@standardsmichigan.com
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“But one of the first and most leading principles on which the commonwealth and the laws are consecrated, is lest the temporary possessors and life-renters in it, unmindful of what they have received from their ancestors, or of what is due to their posterity, should act as if they were the entire masters; that they should not think it amongst their rights to cut off the entail, or commit waste on the inheritance, by destroying at their pleasure the whole original fabric of their society; hazarding to leave to those who come after them, a ruin instead of an habitation – and teaching these successors as little to respect their contrivances, as they had themselves respected the institutions of their forefathers. By this unprincipled facility of changing the state as often, and as much, and in as many ways as there are floating fancies or fashions, the whole chain and continuity of the commonwealth would be broken. No one generation could link with the other. Men would become little better than the flies of summer.”

― Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France

“City of Washington from Beyond the Navy Yard” 1883 George Cooke

Coming into the homestretch of the 24- month lifespan of the 117th Congress we find over 15,000 bills and resolutions.  That’s nearly 30 per-Congressperson so far; though less than 10 percent will become law; whole cloth.   Some of the concepts will be adapted and integrated into administrative practice in existing federal law.

We do not advocate in this domain; merely track the ideas running through the proposals and their effect upon the business and the culture of education communities; with special attention to the cost of safety and sustainability of its real assets.

We select relevant proposals from the stream of this activity and post a selection of them at the head of our Syllabus every day:

H.R. 4595: Repeal the Federal charter for the National Education Association

Leviathan 100

Our interest is generally limited to physical infrastructure which includes instructional spaces, athletic, healthcare, transportation, research, agricultural, food supply and arts facilities.   Some universities own and operate churches, nuclear power plants and airports.  In nearly every way, education communities are cities-within-cities and near-perfect study units for understanding civilization itself.

The education industry builds about $90 billion of new or renovated square footage it every year and, before the circumstances of the pandemic, required at least another $400 billion to manage it.  The physical infrastructure of education communities is the largest non-residential building construction market in the United States.  (CLICK HERE for our coverage of the monthly US Commerce Department report on construction activity).

We estimate total spend of the education industry to be $500 billion in 2022; even discounting the circumstances of the pandemic.  Five-hundred billion running through any industry tills the soil for market-making by incumbent stakeholders (“niche verticals“).   Here’s how they do it:

  • Direct legislative influence — i.e. crafting new legislation, or revising legacy legislation, and submitting it to Congressional staffers who “sell it” to the representative to whom they report.   
  • Retain technical writing shops or non-profit staffers to write passages in codes and standards to be incorporated by reference into new or legacy legislation
  • Executive action

In the process of scanning through technical details many federal proposals get “caught in the net” of our tracking algorithm; particularly social justice issues.   We throw them back.  There are several thousand social justice warriors for every technical domain expert trying to improve infrastructure standards best practice literature.

“The Consummation of Empire” 1836 Thomas Cole

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More

Congressional Budget Office: Education

US Senate Rules and Procedure

US Rules of the House

PBS-P100 Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings Service General Services Administration

Davis-Bacon Act, OSHA Rules of Construction,

Selling to Schools

Smith-Lever Act of 1914

Rural School Act of 1902.

Readings / Elementary & Secondary Education Act of 1965

Readings / Higher Education Act of 1965

Looking after cows on Irish dairy farms

February 26, 2023
mike@standardsmichigan.com

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House of the Lord

February 26, 2023
mike@standardsmichigan.com
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CLICK IMAGE

“Sacred space provides a nexus between form, function, and meaning and provides an occasion for discovering multi-dimensional avenues of spirituality. I have chosen to explore the concept of contemporary sacred space in the context of designing a temple for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also referred to as the Mormon Church.

The explosive growth of the Church establishes the need for an in depth study of the Mormon temple typology. In particular, the cultural politics of the Church present a rare opportunity in Church history that is favorable to design innovations. While the design of Mormon temples has been highly criticized by architects, historians, and educators, the topic is typically poorly understood and regularly neglected in architectural discourse. There are many opportunities to shed light on misunderstandings. This paper conducts a comparative analysis of Mormon sacred architecture by looking specifically at the historical interconnectivity between morphology and typology.

Ultimately, the purpose of this research is to strengthen my design proposal for a Mormon temple in Rome, Italy. While there are certainly social, political, and religious challenges associated with such a proposal, my research seeks to prove that it is a rare and promising design venture. It presents an exciting opportunity for architecture to act as an ambassador of the Mormon religion, express the true essence of its principles, and to display aesthetic sensitivity to Rome’s rich cultural history while simultaneously representing the identity of the Mormon Church. It also presents an opportunity to open a new chapter in the history of the Church’s temple designs, to break recent stereotypes, and to engage unexplored avenues within its own tradition. This research helps to establish the interrelationships between architecture (form), religion (ideals), ritual (function), and culture (environment). Ultimately, the fi nal design is a demonstration of the ritual architectural design process that makes possible the (re)interpretation of the Latter-day Saint temple morphology”

 

The Latter-day Saint temple in Utah, officially known as the Salt Lake Temple, is architecturally special for several reasons:

  1. Granite construction: The Salt Lake Temple is one of the few temples in the world made entirely of granite. The granite was quarried from nearby Little Cottonwood Canyon and transported to the temple site. The granite gives the temple a unique appearance and makes it a symbol of strength and durability.
  2. Gothic Revival architecture: The Salt Lake Temple is designed in the Gothic Revival style, which was popular in the mid-19th century. The style is characterized by pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and ornate decorations. The temple’s towers, spires, and pinnacles are also typical of Gothic Revival architecture.
  3. Symbolism: The Salt Lake Temple is full of symbolism that is significant to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The temple’s exterior features symbols of the sun, moon, and stars, which represent the celestial kingdom. The temple’s interior is also filled with symbols, such as the baptismal font, which represents the washing away of sins.
  4. Sealing rooms: The Salt Lake Temple has several sealing rooms where couples can be married or sealed for eternity. The sealing rooms are decorated with beautiful murals that depict scenes from the Bible and the Book of Mormon. The sealing rooms are considered sacred spaces where couples can make covenants with God and each other.

Overall, the Salt Lake Temple is a remarkable example of Gothic Revival architecture and is full of symbolism and meaning for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Its unique construction and beautiful design make it a beloved and recognizable landmark in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Soil Sampling

February 25, 2023
mike@standardsmichigan.com

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“The Sower” 1888 Vincent Van Gogh

Land Grant Universities typically provide soil testing services to local farmers. As part of their mission to support agricultural research and education, many Land Grant Universities have agricultural extension programs that offer soil testing services to farmers and other members of the community. These programs often provide soil testing at a reasonable cost or for free, and may also offer advice and recommendations for improving soil health and fertility based on the results of the soil test.

In some cases, the soil testing services may be provided by the university’s soil science department or agricultural research station. Farmers can usually contact their local extension office or the university’s agricultural department to inquire about soil testing services and to learn more about the specific testing methods used and the associated fees.


Readings / Morrill Land-Grant Act

Agriculture

Keeping Soil Alive

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